Combination article dispensing container and stand therefor



Jam. 6, 1970 m. M. MERKLE iiwwfiw LE D' ENS' CONTAINER Filed Aug. 18, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY Roberi' M. Merkle ATTORNEY Jim. 191% m, M, MERKLE MWWQ COMBINATION ARTICLE DISPENSING CONTAINER AND STAND THEREFOR Filed Aug. 18, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGJO United States Patent US. Cl. 211-128 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The combination of a hinged top dispensing container and a stand for supporting the container to maintain the stability of the container in its open condition.

Containers of the type which comprise a cover hinged along one edge thereof to a receptacle to allow the cover to be flipped back to expose the contents of the container, are well known, particularly for holding and dispensing marking pens and related devices.

However, such known containers, when in their open condition, are quite unstable due to the overhang of the cover in its open position and tend to tilt and fall over with a consequent scattering of the contents of the containers.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improved stand construction adapted to receive therein containers of the hinged cover type, so as to retain the same in a stable, open condition whereby the contents of such containers are kept in the containers for ready availability to the user thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stand construction of the character described, which comprises a minimum number of parts, is readily assembled, is economical to manufacture and is simple to use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container constituting an element of the combination embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a stand embodying the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the stand with a pair of containers mounted therein;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, with parts in section, showing the assembly of stand and containers;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, with parts in section, showing a detail of the stand;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an alternative form of container;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a stand for the container shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a pair of containers mounted in the stand of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of an element of the stand.

Essentially the instant invention concerns a combination of known container constructions distinguished by hinged covers which are flipped back to allow the container to be used as a dispenser of its contents, with stand constructions for mounting the containers therein, in order to stabilize the containers while the same are used as holders and dispensers of their contents.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1-5, 10 designates a conventional container formed of cardboard or the like, which includes a receptacle portion 11 and a cover portion 12 hinged thereto. Receptacle portion 11 includes a bottom wall 13, a front wall 14, a back wall 15 having a height somewhat greater than that of front wall 14,

and a pair of end walls 16 which have upwardly inclined edges 17 which connect the top edges of walls 14, 15.

Cover portion 12 includes a top wall 18, a front wall 19, a back wall 20 of a height less than that of wall 19, and end walls 21 having inclined top edges 22. When cover portion 12 is in its closed position, edges 22 thereof complement and substantially abut the edges 17 of receptacle portion 11, as indicated in the dot-dash lines of FIG. 1. The outer surfaces of the several walls of both receptacle portion 11 and cover portion 12 are covered with printed paper, in the usual manner, which covering also provides hinge means for connecting cover portion 12 to receptacle portion 11.

Thus, with cover portion 12 in its open position, back wall 20 thereof abuts back wall 15 of receptacle portion 11 and the edges 22 of cover portion 12 are a substantial extension of inclined edges 17 of receptacle portion, FIG. 1. Accordingly, the contents of container 10 may be removed and replaced, as desired. However, the cover portion 12 in its open position, renders the container 10 unstable, particularly when items are placed in the open end of cover portion 12.

Accordingly, there is provided a stand generally indicated at 25 for mounting containers 10 therein. Stand 25 comprises a pair of thin wall members 26 of cardboard, plastic, wood or the like, which are interconnected in parallel relation by a pair of transversely extending members 27, 28.

Members 26 have a bottom edge 29, a relatively short front edge 30, a relatively long back edge 31 and inclined edges 32 joining the upper ends of edges 30, 31. Cross members 27, 28 are flat strips of plastic, wood or the like, whose opposite ends fit into appropriate recesses 32 on the inner surfaces of members 26 and secured therein by glue or the like.

The size and spacing of members 26 is such as to accommodate therein, a pair of open containers 10, see FIGS. 3, 4. The cover portions 12 are retained in their open positions by stapling the same by staples 33 passing through abutting wall portions 15, 20.

Members 27, 28 are located to engage and support the containers 10 mounted in stand 25. Thus, rear member 27 is positioned so that its top edge abuts and supports wall 18 of the rearmost container 10; while front member 28 is positioned to snugly fit into the corner formed by wall 19 of cover portion 12 of the foremost container 10 and the wall 13 of the receptacle portion 11 of the rearmost container 10; the walls 18 and 13 being in stepped relation, FIG. 4.

Thus, the paired containers 10 are snugly received in stand 25, in an open condition which facilitates the storage removal, and replacement of the items normally carried in such containers, such as pens, pencils and the like. A wire or string 35 stretched between parallel members 26 and secured at their opposite ends to front edges 30 thereof, will restrain the containers 10 from forward movement relative to stand 25. The receptacle portions 11 of containers 10 include conventional upstanding lip portions 36 abutting the inner surfaces of front walls 14 thereof.

An alternative form of container 10' is shown in FIG. 6. Container 10 includes a receptacle portion 40 and cover portion 41 hinged thereto. Receptacle portion 40 comprises a bottom wall 42, a relatively short front wall 43, a relatively high back wall 44, end walls 45 having upwardly inclined top edges 46. Cover portion 41 includes a top wall 47, end walls 48 having upwardly inclined edges 49 and a wall 50 interconnecting end walls 48 and wall 47. Cover portion 41 is open at its forward end.

Cover portion 41 is hinged to receptacle portion 40 at the front thereof along top edge 50A of wall 43 thereof,

so that with cover portion 41 in its open position, wall 50 thereof abuts wall 43 of receptacle portion 40. Staples 51 retain cover portion 41 in its open position, the same passing through walls 50, 43.

Receptacle portion 40 includes an upstanding U-shaped extension including a back wall portion 52 and forwardly projecting end wall portions 53 having downwardly inclined edges 54 terminating at edge 50 of wall 43. It will be apparent, that with cover portion 41 in its closed position, end walls 48 thereof overlie end wall portions 53 and edges 49 thereof abut edges 46 of receptacle portion 40.

A stand 25' somewhat similar to stand 25 is adapted to receive a pair of containers 10'. Stand 25 includes parallel side Wall members 26 having bottom edges 29', forward edges 30', rear edges 31' and inclined edges 32. Members 26 are interconnected by transversely disposed members 27' and 28'. Member 27' is of a Z-shaped section, providing a horizontal step 55.

Cross members 28, 2 7 are located so as to support the rearmost container 10', the rear bottom corner thereof being received on step 55 and the forward edge portion of wall 47 of the cover portion 41 being supported on the top edge of member 28. The open front end of cover portion 41 of the foremost container 10 is closed off by a transverse strip 56 having foldable end portions 57 for mounting the same at the forward edges 30' of members 26'. A wire or string 35 holds strip 56 in place.

Alternatively, strip 56 may be adhesively secured to members 26 at the forward edges 30' thereof.

It is understood that all matter herein shown or described is illustrative of the herein disclosed invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a pair of containers comprising an open top receptacle portion and a cover portion hingedly connected thereto for movement between closed and open dispensing positions thereof, said receptacle and cover portions including opposed end walls having complementary inclined edges in abutting relation when the cover portion is in its closed position and in end to end upwardly inclined relation when said cover portion is in its open position, said receptacle and cover portions having their back walls in abutting relation when said cover portion is in its open condition, said containers being in abutting and stepped relation to each other, stand means for supporting said pair of containers in their open position, said stand means comprising a pair of side wall members for receiving said containers therebetween, and a pair of elongated members interconnecting said side wall members, one of said interconnecting members being located to support the bottom wall of the rearmost container, the other of said interconnecting members being located to support the inverted top wall of the rearmost container.

2. The combination as in claim 1 wherein the bottom wall of the receptacle portion of the rearmost container is in stepped relation to the inverted top wall of the cover portion of the foremost container, the interconnecting member supporting the bottom wall of the rearmost container being in abutting relation to the front wall of the cover portion of the foremost container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,704,531 3/1929 Coombs 20645.11 XR 1,770,618 7/1930 Lambert 20645.1l 1,958,520 5/1934 Morton et al. 2lll28 2,108,122 2/1938 Hall 2l1--128 2,723,766 11/1955 Kobs 211l28 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

